A TRIO of West Somerset shanty singers has boosted the funds of charity Prostate Cancer Research in support of fund-raising efforts by former group member Chris Webb.

The £700 donation from Hugill’s Crew comes after Mr Webb was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer last November and has since raised more than £2,000 for the charity.

Williton-based Chris, who is currently undergoing chemotherapy and other treatment, received the money at an afternoon tea also attended by former Hugill’s Crew member Colin Adams.

Mr Webb said: “I was really touched to receive the cheque from my shanty friends and I know it will fund more research into what is now the most common cancer in men.”

In February, Mr Webb completed a 56-mile walking challenge, clocking up to two miles a day to raise money for the charity.

This was despite undergoing two sessions of chemotherapy during the month.

He said: “The support and generosity of my family and friends has been overwhelming.

“The treatment has been hard but it means that at the moment I am able to live with prostate cancer.”

Since being set up in 2019 by Keith Woolgar, from Minehead, Hugill’s Crew, previously a five-man band named after former celebrated British shantyman Stan Hugill, has raised thousands of pounds for charitable causes and provided hours of entertainment.

Although officially disbanded more than a year ago, Keith and fellow singers Ray Coleing, also from Minehead, and Mike Dibble, of Timberscombe, continued to raise money at a limited number of events.

Mr Woolgar said: “We have supported a large range of charities in the past, including Guide Dogs for the Blind and the RNLI.

“So, we were delighted to help Prostate Cancer Research.”

The shanty singers have appeared at venues large and small in the past six years from Minehead’s Regal Theatre to Women’s Institute meetings.